What do you think about crime in Vancouver? Do you agree or disagree that Vancouver is ultimately a very safe city? Call/Text Direct - 604-831-4837 email: sebastian@albrechtgroup.ca website: www.calendly.com/albrechtgroup
I'm a short woman who walks and drives through the DTES on a near-daily basis and I generally feel safe. I have friends in San Francisco who say their houseless population tends to be more aggressive than the one here. That makes sense to me because the cost of living there is even more astronomical than it is in Vancouver, exacerbating their struggles with mental health and addiction. You're right about the Entertainment District of Granville St as well. The occasional violence that happens at night usually happens between young guys from the suburbs who let petty arguments escalate into very unfortunate outcomes. Great video as always! I think you present a very fair view of our city.
Thank you, @chiplease. Appreciate you watching and sharing your observations and experience. It's helpful...not just for me, but for other viewers...to hear what it's like from your perspective!
People can dislike Vancouver for many reasons, but it's a super safe city. I really think that people who feel afraid in this city truly don't understand how much worse it can be in other cites in different countries. I agree open air drug use is not pretty, but most large cities around North America are dealing with this issue.
Yep. Agreed, @droxal. I think Vancouver is coping with the issues of a modern city much better than most places...appreciate you watching and sharing your opinion!
Ive been living in Vancouver fot about 4 1/2 years and Im not a fan of the city at all. However, despite all the open air drug abuse and the homeslessness, it's a very, very safe city, especially if you come from Latin America (Im from Rio, Brazil). Also, Ive been to Europe twice as a tourist, and I can say that Vancouver is definetely safer. There's no people harrasing/scheming tourists for money (maybe because there are no foreign tourists lol). I can' t say if someone from Norway or Finland would feel safer in Vancouver, but if you are from Latin America or even the US, you would feel very safe. Great job as usual, Seb, a very honest take. Have a nice weekend, my friend 🍻🍻
Yeah, for sure. I should have mentioned the global context a little more…because i fully agree. And i think when we hyper focus on ourselves we can miss the bigger picture. So, thank you for mentioning that. And glad to hear that you enjoyed the video @armandon2208!
@@LivingInVancouver-BC Video is on point. Petty crimes are definetely an issue, I worked in Retail and there were people running out the door with stuff every single day. But no violent crimes whatsoever. Chances of being mugged or worse are minimal, as you mentioned. Cheers.
i wouldn't generalize Europe like that. Berlin, where i lived before coming to Vancouver, was much safer and more comfortable to just walk around at all times. Same goes for other German cities I visited. Dutch cities and Danish and Swedish. Poland felt very safe as well.
@nicktankard1244 You are right. It's definitely not a uniform experience. Lots of variations throughout Europe...I'll let @amandon2208 speak for himself but I understood him to be saying that it can feel unsafe as a tourist in Europe because you can be targeted for scams...something he hadn't experienced in Vancouver. I would agree with you that that's not every European city and definitely not something you'll experience in Germany. BUT, I have had that experience in SOME European cities (although I have to admit, it's been a long time since I was really travelling through Europe so things could very well have changed).
@@LivingInVancouver-BCyeah being a tourist is a different experience. There are scams and annoying people in touristy areas in Germany and most other European countries. But that’s not what we are talking about here and can be easily ignored. I wouldn’t consider it a safety issue. It’s just annoying. Pickpocketing is a safety related issue that exists in Europe but that’s not everywhere and not a big deal if you’re vigilant like in any big city almost anywhere in the world. Also locals don’t usually go to touristy places anyway 😂
It is really truth. You look at the news of Toronto crime which is almost everyday attack, break in houses etc, why the crime rate is low and safe? The number is not make sense. Recently , Calgary has a lot of murder and shootings as well .
@janiceho6034 I'm not sure specifically about what's happening with crime in Toronto and Calgary specifically...but it's pretty clear (based on the Crime Severity Index) that crime in Vancouver is going in a more positive direction than many other parts of Canada.
I lived in Vancouver from 2018 to 2021, specifically, the South Granville neighbourhood. This was very hardy to Downtown, while avoiding all/most of the issues that are associated with Downtown. There is still a reasonably high density of people in SG dues to the number of apartment buildings. It was a good mix of younger and older people. I didn't feel unsafe there, although there was always crime happening on the fringes - mostly bike theft, other theft from parking garages. There is a sector of society in Vancouver who travel the back lanes and look for opportunities to steal things. I think this probably even occurs in the safe neighborhoods you mention. These neighborhoods have valuable bikes and other things worth stealing. I worked in Downtown and so long as you are travelling there during normal working hours, there are enough people about to deter most criminals. I was never keen on being Downtown after 8pm, because of the aggressiveness that can come out after a few drinks, as you mention. The main issue however, especially during Covid and perhaps even now, was the spillover of homelessness and drug issues into Downtown, but particularly Granville Street. It seemed that the authorities were at a loss to how to handle this, and perhaps still are. I had one particular guy who hung around my office building. He was very intimidating. I often worked or used the office on the weekend, when there were fewer people about, and he put me off that because he was so scary. Just a bit of a personal perspective.
@tims793 Thanks for sharing your personal observations and experience. I think we share quite a bit of opinions here. From my point of view it’s not so much that the police don’t know what to do…it’s that they’ve decided to take a particular approach with people that are homeless, drug addicted and/or mentally ill. They’ve found that taking a hard stand on certain activities is pointless. It exacerbates the problem…and the result is we can see some of these things happening on the street that we might prefer not to. If things get too far the police are quite quick to step in though (from what I’ve seen but I’m sure people may disagree). It’s a tough and complicated situation…
@ivorytelecaster For sure. Totally reasonable reaction! Are you referring to the 100 cars that were vandalized in south vancouver yesterday? Why was it only a brief moment of doubt for you?
It was only brief because Vancouver is amazing and I miss it everyday. That, and I quickly remembered that when I lived in vancouver I had my car broken into all over the city(just par for the course really) I think living on a Salt Spring Island for almost 10 years had blurred my memory😂
You've been living on Salt Spring for the last ten years and recently moved back to Vancouver? Do I have that right? Or are you about to move from Salt Spring back to Vancouver? Either way, break-ins into vehicles are definitely an issue in any neighborhood (just more likely the closer to the Downtown Eastside you get) but that kind of random vandalism is pretty rare.
@@LivingInVancouver-BCI’m on Salt Spring and looking forward to moving back. We had our place listed for the last few months so we took it down till spring. Hopefully the market picks back up
@ivorytelecaster Ah. Got it! My understanding of the market on the Gulf Islands is it's pretty typically slow through the winter (more than Vancouver) and then picks up considerably in the warmer months. I'm sure you'll have better luck in the spring...and declining interest rates should help, too. I hope it goes well for you!
Hi there, great vid again. I am from the Netherlands and I am about to plan a trip to Canada in 2025. Destination Vancouver, direct flights from Amsterdam and I really want to discover the city and especially spend my time hiking in the mountains/lakes/forests ( Vancouver Island as well ), Canada's beauty is a bucketlist thing :) But the country is so enormous I have to start somewhere, life is far to short to discover it all. But to live in BC, maybe Kamloops/Kelowna is affordable, Vancouver is far to expensive I think. My Dutch netto salary ( present day ) is about 3025,00 ( about 4400,00 CAD ) each month and I can make a decent living in the Netherlands here, but the big cities in Canada are, I think to expensive even for most Dutch people. Average housing price at the moment in my country is about 420,000 Euro's with average interest rates between 3,5%- 4,5% , so not bad. I bought my house 10 years ago for only 160,000, current interest rate 1,3% 😉 Maybe there are options in the future ( radical thinking ) to move to Canada. If I sell my house over 19 years, 100% guaranteed 300-350K cash clear on my account. If I do so, my interest will go for a lodge on walking distance from open nature. Vancouver itself is very close to nature, maybe there are options. First lets plan my trip for 2025 to discover :)
@napke8571 That's great! It'll definitely be tough to afford a home in Vancouver...but many end up figuring it out. As you said, the first step is coming here and seeing what you think of it in person. :)
I think 'how safe is Vancouver' is very subjective for people living in other parts of the world. To me, Benchmark is crime rate trend of last few years and if it is declining, then it is a great relief. People come to Vancouver with very high expectation. Might be that is the problem.
@shikhasood6711 i agree. There’s a lot of subjectivity to the concept of feeling safe. The example i always give is you can find one house with bars on the windows, security cameras and a security system right next to a house that still doesn’t lock their front door. And yes, expectations are high for our city. They should be…but petty crime has been an issue for as long as i can remember. I think it’s important people are aware…we are safe, but there are caveats. Appreciate you watching and sharing your thoughts!
I have lived in Vancouver for almost 40 years and never had an issue. Sure the downtown east side is a nightmare but I ride my bike through the so called "worst" parts of the city all the time and have never have an issue. Everyone in that part of the city is so messed up they don't even know you are there. In my opinion the city was far more dangerous when I first moved there in the 80s than it is now.
@markadler8968 Appreciate you sharing your experience and for checking out my channel. There definitely used to be a much bigger issue in the 70s/80s with street gang violence that was targeting the general public. Even the police wouldn't enter Clarke Park for example...so yeah, I don't disagree that there was a bigger issue with more public violent crime than we have today.
Good analysis. Overall, i feel pretty safe in Vancouver. And I go to Downtown Eastside somewhat often. I do feel uncomfortable there, but not unsafe. But I'm a big city boy, and I'm used to being more aware of my surroundings at all times. That said, I don't really like downtown and try to avoid it. It's a bit too shady for my taste. But I do have to go there for events and stuff once in a while.
Thanks, @nicktankard1244! I do think that a lot of the feeling of being "safe" is subjective and based on what we are used to. If you come from somewhere that's a bigger city then usually you'll feel Vancouver is quaint and safe. If you move here from a small, rural area (particularly from rural BC) it can feel unsafe. Appreciate you sharing your observations!
One of my biggest issues is that the problem is getting larger. I'm seeing more tents around commerical drive. Even Broadway station looks cleaner 10 years ago.
@allen604 Well...I guess that's my point. There's no doubt that homelessness, drug addiction and mental illness are increasing issues in Vancouver (as it is in most cities in North America)...exacerbated by covid, but our city is still safe and becoming safer. Vancouver is navigating this world extremely well (in my opinion). I'm not saying it's perfect just not as extreme as some people seem to believe.
Great Video! It's a useful topic for those who are wondering where to settle down there with family. What's your opinion on "South" Surrey, the residential neighborhoods that are close to White Rock? It it safe or safer than Vancouver or in comparison to other nearby suburbs? Thinking to move there and safety is always the first priority in mind. Thank you!
@PriomCAN Glad you found the video helpful! South Surrey - White Rock is generally considered to be "safer" than the northern parts of Surrey. And yes, it's a great place for families and kids. Let me know if you'd like any help in finding the right family home!
@@LivingInVancouver-BC thanks! Hopefully would like to get in touch closer to my moving date. So do you usually help clients in home purchases only or help to find long term lease as well?
@PriomCAN you’ll want to check out the video i did on renting in Vancouver to get a feel for how it works here. Unfortunately, no one professionally represents tenants…so while i can pass along a few tips to those looking to rent i can only professionally help people buy or sell real estate.
I'm no crime expert...but my sense is that security alarms aren't really that necessary in most of Metro Vancouver. Sure, houses get broken into but it's not terribly common (in 25 years of homeownership it's happened to me once). I think home security systems help the home-owner to feel safer subjectively, not necessarily objectively. I suppose it's a deterrent to a degree, but if someone really wants to get in they'll get in no matter the security system...I mean, we've all seen Ocean's Eleven, right? ;)
Hi, I have heard of the random attacks, that happened lately...with people being violently attacked or even murdered by psychotic drug users etc.. I used to live in Vancouver ( 2006 - 2009) and worked right in Gastown next to tons of homeless/drug people. I was never scared there or anything and loved the peaceful vibe...but hearing about the random attacks even in places like Kits got me worried and scared. What are your thoughts here? Cheers, Mel*
Hey @melmademoves! This is the type of thing that I was talking about. In my view, the public perception (driven by the media) is that this issue is much more significant than it is. It's undeniable that these types of attacks have happened (and by no means am I trying to minimize people's personal experience) but they had specifically escalated around COVID on the downtown eastside. The height of these attacks was really in the middle of covid and it was concentrated on the downtown eastside...a time where everyone was feeling on edge, but a particularly challenging time for people strung out on drugs, homeless and/or suffering from mental illness. Within the last few months, it was reported that random stranger attacks are down 77% (since 2021) and continue to be on a steady decline. There was also research from a criminologist at SFU that statistically, there was no meaningful increase in these types of crimes over the last 25 years. Some suggested that the release of data from the VPD was flawed and self-serving (they released it just prior to a new budget being set). The release of data showing how much these crimes have declined since 2021 was also held back by the VPD until after the civic election (and Mayor Ken Sim was elected on a platform of public safety).
I think you'll know my feelings after watching my video. :) I think the video sensationalizes the issue. Obviously the more extreme viewpoint sells views...and it's based on crime statistics that were at the height of the pandemic. A time where everyone was being pushed to their limits and this was part of the outcome for the down and out and destitute living with drug addiction, being under-housed and often suffering from mental illness. The relative extremes seen at the time are no longer reflected in the crime stats.
Hi @wenkoffs! I'd say the most central areas (barring covid) that are seeing the most development due to high levels of demand. Areas that are conveniently located (eg good transit and short commute times) and have lower crime rates. Exactly how that plays out depends on your budget, needs and the type of housing that you are looking for (the right answer for someone looking for a condo with no kids would be a very different answer than for a family buying a house for example). Kitsilano, Yaletown, the West End, Mount Pleasant, Main Street, Fraser, Commercial Drive would all be at the top of my list, though.
No problem! Those are all great neighborhoods! I did a video on Main Street (Little Mountain / Riley Park) a little while back that you might want to check out if you missed it.
@johnyboyvan Can’t disagree. That’s where i bought my first condo (@wenkoffs this a particular area of Kitsilano) when it was still being built out…and i still love that neighborhood. Back then (late 90s) it was actually still a little rough and gritty if you can believe it. Excited to see the skytrain added to the neighborhood too.
Vancouver is definitely safe for a single female traveler...although, this question took a turn that I wasn't expecting. HIV is present in Vancouver, but not generally a concern as it was 30 years ago. I think these days it's more likely to be spread via using dirty needles rather than sexually.
Kerrisdale, Point Grey, and Shaughnessy have little crime because the population is made up of the ultra rich, UBC profs etc. Richer and less dense the neighbourhood (for the most part), the less petty crime there is. Same thing in Toronto's Rosedale and Montreal's Westmount. Nothing there to attract sh*trats unless they're part of an auto theft or home invasion gang. I lived in Kits in the 80s, never had a personal safety issue, but I understand its going downhill too. The Vancouver I loved is lost forever.
@thetruthhurts708 Yes. Generally, the greater the wealth of any neighborhood in any city the more likely that it has lower crime rates. Density and proximity to the downtown eastside also appear to play a role, though. Thanks for watching and sharing your observations!
Typical Canadian mental gymnastics here!) Let's pretend that "ACTUALLY" there is no problem, here is some statistics, as you can see they don't kill, but just steal, but please don't go there, lol
@ruslanmyavlin4537 Mental gymnastics? LOL, hardly. Just facts and observations from a lifelong resident. You know what would get me WAY more views? If I made that video all about how bad things were and how out of control crime is....fear sells. But, that's not my experience...nor what the data says. 💁
These (town*) are terrible or city videos... what percentage is the 'true' reality of 'poverty on the streets vs. fully housed within the same city? It's going to be miniscule. I'm not saying we shouldn't help, but all this California's this, Texas, is that, people's moving from to is just quite frankly silly and getting old 🎉
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What do you think about crime in Vancouver? Do you agree or disagree that Vancouver is ultimately a very safe city?
Call/Text Direct - 604-831-4837
email: sebastian@albrechtgroup.ca
website: www.calendly.com/albrechtgroup
Hi can you please post a video about Port Moody and surrounding area near Port Moody. We are planning to move there.
Or renting houses on ranch or on farm near Port Moody
@@reghardsteynberg3006 Port Moody is an area that's on the list to cover for sure. Thanks for watching!
Hi Sebastian, the crime is still under control there in Vancouver .
Agree Vancouver is a safe city.
Hi @reghardsteynberg3006! Where are you looking to move from, by the way?
I'm a short woman who walks and drives through the DTES on a near-daily basis and I generally feel safe. I have friends in San Francisco who say their houseless population tends to be more aggressive than the one here. That makes sense to me because the cost of living there is even more astronomical than it is in Vancouver, exacerbating their struggles with mental health and addiction. You're right about the Entertainment District of Granville St as well. The occasional violence that happens at night usually happens between young guys from the suburbs who let petty arguments escalate into very unfortunate outcomes. Great video as always! I think you present a very fair view of our city.
Thank you, @chiplease. Appreciate you watching and sharing your observations and experience. It's helpful...not just for me, but for other viewers...to hear what it's like from your perspective!
People can dislike Vancouver for many reasons, but it's a super safe city. I really think that people who feel afraid in this city truly don't understand how much worse it can be in other cites in different countries. I agree open air drug use is not pretty, but most large cities around North America are dealing with this issue.
Yep. Agreed, @droxal. I think Vancouver is coping with the issues of a modern city much better than most places...appreciate you watching and sharing your opinion!
Ive been living in Vancouver fot about 4 1/2 years and Im not a fan of the city at all. However, despite all the open air drug abuse and the homeslessness, it's a very, very safe city, especially if you come from Latin America (Im from Rio, Brazil). Also, Ive been to Europe twice as a tourist, and I can say that Vancouver is definetely safer. There's no people harrasing/scheming tourists for money (maybe because there are no foreign tourists lol). I can' t say if someone from Norway or Finland would feel safer in Vancouver, but if you are from Latin America or even the US, you would feel very safe.
Great job as usual, Seb, a very honest take. Have a nice weekend, my friend 🍻🍻
Yeah, for sure. I should have mentioned the global context a little more…because i fully agree. And i think when we hyper focus on ourselves we can miss the bigger picture. So, thank you for mentioning that. And glad to hear that you enjoyed the video @armandon2208!
@@LivingInVancouver-BC Video is on point. Petty crimes are definetely an issue, I worked in Retail and there were people running out the door with stuff every single day. But no violent crimes whatsoever. Chances of being mugged or worse are minimal, as you mentioned. Cheers.
i wouldn't generalize Europe like that. Berlin, where i lived before coming to Vancouver, was much safer and more comfortable to just walk around at all times. Same goes for other German cities I visited. Dutch cities and Danish and Swedish. Poland felt very safe as well.
@nicktankard1244 You are right. It's definitely not a uniform experience. Lots of variations throughout Europe...I'll let @amandon2208 speak for himself but I understood him to be saying that it can feel unsafe as a tourist in Europe because you can be targeted for scams...something he hadn't experienced in Vancouver. I would agree with you that that's not every European city and definitely not something you'll experience in Germany. BUT, I have had that experience in SOME European cities (although I have to admit, it's been a long time since I was really travelling through Europe so things could very well have changed).
@@LivingInVancouver-BCyeah being a tourist is a different experience. There are scams and annoying people in touristy areas in Germany and most other European countries. But that’s not what we are talking about here and can be easily ignored. I wouldn’t consider it a safety issue. It’s just annoying. Pickpocketing is a safety related issue that exists in Europe but that’s not everywhere and not a big deal if you’re vigilant like in any big city almost anywhere in the world. Also locals don’t usually go to touristy places anyway 😂
It is really truth. You look at the news of Toronto crime which is almost everyday attack, break in houses etc, why the crime rate is low and safe? The number is not make sense. Recently , Calgary has a lot of murder and shootings as well .
@janiceho6034 I'm not sure specifically about what's happening with crime in Toronto and Calgary specifically...but it's pretty clear (based on the Crime Severity Index) that crime in Vancouver is going in a more positive direction than many other parts of Canada.
I lived in Vancouver from 2018 to 2021, specifically, the South Granville neighbourhood. This was very hardy to Downtown, while avoiding all/most of the issues that are associated with Downtown. There is still a reasonably high density of people in SG dues to the number of apartment buildings. It was a good mix of younger and older people. I didn't feel unsafe there, although there was always crime happening on the fringes - mostly bike theft, other theft from parking garages. There is a sector of society in Vancouver who travel the back lanes and look for opportunities to steal things. I think this probably even occurs in the safe neighborhoods you mention. These neighborhoods have valuable bikes and other things worth stealing. I worked in Downtown and so long as you are travelling there during normal working hours, there are enough people about to deter most criminals. I was never keen on being Downtown after 8pm, because of the aggressiveness that can come out after a few drinks, as you mention. The main issue however, especially during Covid and perhaps even now, was the spillover of homelessness and drug issues into Downtown, but particularly Granville Street. It seemed that the authorities were at a loss to how to handle this, and perhaps still are. I had one particular guy who hung around my office building. He was very intimidating. I often worked or used the office on the weekend, when there were fewer people about, and he put me off that because he was so scary. Just a bit of a personal perspective.
@tims793 Thanks for sharing your personal observations and experience. I think we share quite a bit of opinions here. From my point of view it’s not so much that the police don’t know what to do…it’s that they’ve decided to take a particular approach with people that are homeless, drug addicted and/or mentally ill. They’ve found that taking a hard stand on certain activities is pointless. It exacerbates the problem…and the result is we can see some of these things happening on the street that we might prefer not to. If things get too far the police are quite quick to step in though (from what I’ve seen but I’m sure people may disagree). It’s a tough and complicated situation…
I have to say that when I saw the news that over one hundred cars were broken into in one night I briefly wondered about my reasoning in moving back.
@ivorytelecaster For sure. Totally reasonable reaction! Are you referring to the 100 cars that were vandalized in south vancouver yesterday? Why was it only a brief moment of doubt for you?
It was only brief because Vancouver is amazing and I miss it everyday. That, and I quickly remembered that when I lived in vancouver I had my car broken into all over the city(just par for the course really) I think living on a Salt Spring Island for almost 10 years had blurred my memory😂
You've been living on Salt Spring for the last ten years and recently moved back to Vancouver? Do I have that right? Or are you about to move from Salt Spring back to Vancouver? Either way, break-ins into vehicles are definitely an issue in any neighborhood (just more likely the closer to the Downtown Eastside you get) but that kind of random vandalism is pretty rare.
@@LivingInVancouver-BCI’m on Salt Spring and looking forward to moving back. We had our place listed for the last few months so we took it down till spring. Hopefully the market picks back up
@ivorytelecaster Ah. Got it! My understanding of the market on the Gulf Islands is it's pretty typically slow through the winter (more than Vancouver) and then picks up considerably in the warmer months. I'm sure you'll have better luck in the spring...and declining interest rates should help, too. I hope it goes well for you!
Hi there, great vid again. I am from the Netherlands and I am about to plan a trip to Canada in 2025. Destination Vancouver, direct flights from Amsterdam and I really want to discover the city and especially spend my time hiking in the mountains/lakes/forests ( Vancouver Island as well ), Canada's beauty is a bucketlist thing :) But the country is so enormous I have to start somewhere, life is far to short to discover it all. But to live in BC, maybe Kamloops/Kelowna is affordable, Vancouver is far to expensive I think. My Dutch netto salary ( present day ) is about 3025,00 ( about 4400,00 CAD ) each month and I can make a decent living in the Netherlands here, but the big cities in Canada are, I think to expensive even for most Dutch people. Average housing price at the moment in my country is about 420,000 Euro's with average interest rates between 3,5%- 4,5% , so not bad. I bought my house 10 years ago for only 160,000, current interest rate 1,3% 😉 Maybe there are options in the future ( radical thinking ) to move to Canada. If I sell my house over 19 years, 100% guaranteed 300-350K cash clear on my account. If I do so, my interest will go for a lodge on walking distance from open nature. Vancouver itself is very close to nature, maybe there are options. First lets plan my trip for 2025 to discover :)
@napke8571 That's great! It'll definitely be tough to afford a home in Vancouver...but many end up figuring it out. As you said, the first step is coming here and seeing what you think of it in person. :)
I think 'how safe is Vancouver' is very subjective for people living in other parts of the world. To me, Benchmark is crime rate trend of last few years and if it is declining, then it is a great relief.
People come to Vancouver with very high expectation. Might be that is the problem.
@shikhasood6711 i agree. There’s a lot of subjectivity to the concept of feeling safe. The example i always give is you can find one house with bars on the windows, security cameras and a security system right next to a house that still doesn’t lock their front door. And yes, expectations are high for our city. They should be…but petty crime has been an issue for as long as i can remember. I think it’s important people are aware…we are safe, but there are caveats. Appreciate you watching and sharing your thoughts!
I have lived in Vancouver for almost 40 years and never had an issue. Sure the downtown east side is a nightmare but I ride my bike through the so called "worst" parts of the city all the time and have never have an issue. Everyone in that part of the city is so messed up they don't even know you are there. In my opinion the city was far more dangerous when I first moved there in the 80s than it is now.
@markadler8968 Appreciate you sharing your experience and for checking out my channel. There definitely used to be a much bigger issue in the 70s/80s with street gang violence that was targeting the general public. Even the police wouldn't enter Clarke Park for example...so yeah, I don't disagree that there was a bigger issue with more public violent crime than we have today.
Good analysis. Overall, i feel pretty safe in Vancouver. And I go to Downtown Eastside somewhat often. I do feel uncomfortable there, but not unsafe. But I'm a big city boy, and I'm used to being more aware of my surroundings at all times. That said, I don't really like downtown and try to avoid it. It's a bit too shady for my taste. But I do have to go there for events and stuff once in a while.
Thanks, @nicktankard1244! I do think that a lot of the feeling of being "safe" is subjective and based on what we are used to. If you come from somewhere that's a bigger city then usually you'll feel Vancouver is quaint and safe. If you move here from a small, rural area (particularly from rural BC) it can feel unsafe. Appreciate you sharing your observations!
One of my biggest issues is that the problem is getting larger. I'm seeing more tents around commerical drive. Even Broadway station looks cleaner 10 years ago.
@allen604 Well...I guess that's my point. There's no doubt that homelessness, drug addiction and mental illness are increasing issues in Vancouver (as it is in most cities in North America)...exacerbated by covid, but our city is still safe and becoming safer. Vancouver is navigating this world extremely well (in my opinion). I'm not saying it's perfect just not as extreme as some people seem to believe.
That's a great video
Thanks
I appreciate that @warrior4713. Glad that you enjoyed it!
Great Video! It's a useful topic for those who are wondering where to settle down there with family. What's your opinion on "South" Surrey, the residential neighborhoods that are close to White Rock? It it safe or safer than Vancouver or in comparison to other nearby suburbs? Thinking to move there and safety is always the first priority in mind. Thank you!
@PriomCAN Glad you found the video helpful! South Surrey - White Rock is generally considered to be "safer" than the northern parts of Surrey. And yes, it's a great place for families and kids. Let me know if you'd like any help in finding the right family home!
@@LivingInVancouver-BC thanks! Hopefully would like to get in touch closer to my moving date. So do you usually help clients in home purchases only or help to find long term lease as well?
@PriomCAN you’ll want to check out the video i did on renting in Vancouver to get a feel for how it works here. Unfortunately, no one professionally represents tenants…so while i can pass along a few tips to those looking to rent i can only professionally help people buy or sell real estate.
Do you find alarm systems act as a deterrent?
I'm no crime expert...but my sense is that security alarms aren't really that necessary in most of Metro Vancouver. Sure, houses get broken into but it's not terribly common (in 25 years of homeownership it's happened to me once). I think home security systems help the home-owner to feel safer subjectively, not necessarily objectively. I suppose it's a deterrent to a degree, but if someone really wants to get in they'll get in no matter the security system...I mean, we've all seen Ocean's Eleven, right? ;)
I probably wouldn’t be walking around gore ave and Hastings at night by myself but yeah it’s safe .
Fair @jtome84-91
Hi, I have heard of the random attacks, that happened lately...with people being violently attacked or even murdered by psychotic drug users etc.. I used to live in Vancouver ( 2006 - 2009) and worked right in Gastown next to tons of homeless/drug people. I was never scared there or anything and loved the peaceful vibe...but hearing about the random attacks even in places like Kits got me worried and scared. What are your thoughts here? Cheers, Mel*
Hey @melmademoves! This is the type of thing that I was talking about. In my view, the public perception (driven by the media) is that this issue is much more significant than it is.
It's undeniable that these types of attacks have happened (and by no means am I trying to minimize people's personal experience) but they had specifically escalated around COVID on the downtown eastside. The height of these attacks was really in the middle of covid and it was concentrated on the downtown eastside...a time where everyone was feeling on edge, but a particularly challenging time for people strung out on drugs, homeless and/or suffering from mental illness.
Within the last few months, it was reported that random stranger attacks are down 77% (since 2021) and continue to be on a steady decline. There was also research from a criminologist at SFU that statistically, there was no meaningful increase in these types of crimes over the last 25 years.
Some suggested that the release of data from the VPD was flawed and self-serving (they released it just prior to a new budget being set). The release of data showing how much these crimes have declined since 2021 was also held back by the VPD until after the civic election (and Mayor Ken Sim was elected on a platform of public safety).
great content!
I appreciate that. Thank you @kksparks! And thank you for continuing to support the channel. :)
What is your opinion on the Aaron Gunn documentary titled "Vancouver is Dying?"
I think you'll know my feelings after watching my video. :) I think the video sensationalizes the issue. Obviously the more extreme viewpoint sells views...and it's based on crime statistics that were at the height of the pandemic. A time where everyone was being pushed to their limits and this was part of the outcome for the down and out and destitute living with drug addiction, being under-housed and often suffering from mental illness. The relative extremes seen at the time are no longer reflected in the crime stats.
There is an old French ( sad ) pop song that goes " it rains on the haven of Vancouver....."
Let's hear it, @lioneldemun6033! :)
@@LivingInVancouver-BC oh no it's a kind of sad caterwauling
Lol ok you’re off the hook
Heya, again! What neighbourhoods would you recommend for resale value?
Hi @wenkoffs! I'd say the most central areas (barring covid) that are seeing the most development due to high levels of demand. Areas that are conveniently located (eg good transit and short commute times) and have lower crime rates. Exactly how that plays out depends on your budget, needs and the type of housing that you are looking for (the right answer for someone looking for a condo with no kids would be a very different answer than for a family buying a house for example). Kitsilano, Yaletown, the West End, Mount Pleasant, Main Street, Fraser, Commercial Drive would all be at the top of my list, though.
I’ll take a look at Fraser, commercial drive, and Main Street! Thanks so much!
No problem! Those are all great neighborhoods! I did a video on Main Street (Little Mountain / Riley Park) a little while back that you might want to check out if you missed it.
Arbutus Walk rules!
@johnyboyvan Can’t disagree. That’s where i bought my first condo (@wenkoffs this a particular area of Kitsilano) when it was still being built out…and i still love that neighborhood. Back then (late 90s) it was actually still a little rough and gritty if you can believe it. Excited to see the skytrain added to the neighborhood too.
is it safe for woman traveling alone for holday does it have HIV there
Vancouver is definitely safe for a single female traveler...although, this question took a turn that I wasn't expecting. HIV is present in Vancouver, but not generally a concern as it was 30 years ago. I think these days it's more likely to be spread via using dirty needles rather than sexually.
Kerrisdale, Point Grey, and Shaughnessy have little crime because the population is made up of the ultra rich, UBC profs etc. Richer and less dense the neighbourhood (for the most part), the less petty crime there is. Same thing in Toronto's Rosedale and Montreal's Westmount. Nothing there to attract sh*trats unless they're part of an auto theft or home invasion gang. I lived in Kits in the 80s, never had a personal safety issue, but I understand its going downhill too. The Vancouver I loved is lost forever.
@thetruthhurts708 Yes. Generally, the greater the wealth of any neighborhood in any city the more likely that it has lower crime rates. Density and proximity to the downtown eastside also appear to play a role, though. Thanks for watching and sharing your observations!
rent is gonna be 15,000$ a month for a porter potty in 2050!
I wouldn't bet against it @wooshylooshy...
Typical Canadian mental gymnastics here!) Let's pretend that "ACTUALLY" there is no problem, here is some statistics, as you can see they don't kill, but just steal, but please don't go there, lol
@ruslanmyavlin4537 Mental gymnastics? LOL, hardly. Just facts and observations from a lifelong resident. You know what would get me WAY more views? If I made that video all about how bad things were and how out of control crime is....fear sells. But, that's not my experience...nor what the data says. 💁
These (town*) are terrible or city videos... what percentage is the 'true' reality of 'poverty on the streets vs. fully housed within the same city? It's going to be miniscule. I'm not saying we shouldn't help, but all this California's this, Texas, is that, people's moving from to is just quite frankly silly and getting old 🎉
@the_cali_dude_88 Appreciate you watching and sharing your thoughts. I'm not 100% certain what you are saying, though?
You must have a very shielded and comfortable life
I still can’t figure out what they were trying to say @lioneldemun6033 but looks like you had better luck.
Vancouver druggies are still safe guys
@giuseppeverdi8284 Yeah. Vancouver is pretty safe in the grand scheme of things.